Other vision correction methods: phakic lenses implantation

People with extremely high diopter values (over -10.0 or +6.00) or corneas (transparent front part of the eye) that too thin or irregular (diagnosed during examination) and because of it laser vision correction would expose them to the risk of complications have an option of phakic lens implantation (Implantable Collamer Lens-ICL, or iris claw-Verisyse, Veriflex) into the eyes.

Phakic lenses are implanted into the anterior eye segment (in front of or behind the pupil), without removing the natural lens and they function as a contact lens in the eye but the patient does not feel them and does not have to take care of them.

The operation is performed through small incisions which usually do not even need to be sutured. Surgery is almost completely free of complications and extremely harmless for all structures of the eye (no structure of the eye is removed). It is especially suitable for young people (between 20 and 50 years) who still have the possibility of eye accommodation, i.e. the adjustment of image focus both at distance and at proximity. Also, the procedure is reversible, i.e. the lens can be removed from the eye (the eye returns to its preexisting diopter) without additional damages (in case of an increase in diopter and the need for implantation of more powerful lenses or the arrival of new significantly better and more advanced technologies).

There are several types of these lenses (Implantable Collamer lens-ICL, or iris claw- Verisyse, Veriflex) which enable the treatment of diopter value range from -23 to +21 diopter as well as 6 cylinder of astigmatism. 

Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)

Lenses are implanted behind the pupil (in the posterior eye chamber between the iris and the natural lens). At the moment, they are considered the best solution for people who are not suitable candidates for laser vision correction, and have a diopter range from -0,5 to -18.0 and from +0.50 to +8.0 they also correct astigmatism up to 6.0 diopter. Compared to other generations of phakic lenses, they have better optics and are more suitable for people with a large pupil diameter. Also, due to lens position inside the eye, it has been observed that in patients with a large negative diopters it significantly improves visual acuity compared to glasses and contact lenses. It is made of biocompatible material and it does not cause immunological eye reaction, and it also has anti-reflective and UV protective properties.

Verisyse/Veriflex

Lenses are implanted in front of the pupil onto the iris. They give excellent quality of vision for people with high diopters, and are now being implanted in cases where diopter value is greater than the diopter range of ICL phakic intraocular lenses as well as in people with a weak supporting eye apparatus which is unable to keep the lens behind the pupil. Lenses exist on the market for more than 20 years and have on their side the greatest world experience which indicates excellent results and procedure stability.